Hitching device.



'PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

G. W. HAZLBWOOD & H. U. ROBINSON. HITCHING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED 1030.7. 1905.

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.lTo all whom it -ma,y-ncern;: I Be it lmown that we, GEORGE W. HAZLE-.

UNITED STATES PATENT DEFT-GE.

OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

HIT GH I'NG DEVICE.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

PatentedNov. 27, I906.

Application'filed December 7, 1905. Serial No. 290.859-

WOOD, residing at Mineral Wells, in the county of Palo Pinto, and HENRY C. ROBIN- ;son, residing at Fort Worth, in thecountyof Tarrant, State of Texas, citizens of the UnitedStates, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hitching Devices,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates .to hitchingdevices of the type employed for hitching an animal to a post or other fixture, and has forits obj ects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which in practice may be conveniently operated through the medium of the rein by theoccupant of the vehicle to release the animal, thus obviating the necessity for unhitching the animal prior to entering the vehicle.

Withthese and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partly in perspective, of a device embodying the invention and showing the same applied for use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hitching device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same, showing the parts in releasing position. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the hitching device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hitching-strap connected at one end with the hitching device 2, adapted for engagement with a bit-ring 3, to which is connected one end of a rein 4, these parts, except as hereinafter explained, being of the usual or any preferred construction and material and adapted in practice to perform their ordinary functions.

The hitching device 2, forming the subjectmatter of the resent invention, comprisesa primary member 5 and a secondary relatively movable member 6, pivoted between its ends at 7 to the member 5, which latter is provided at its forward end with a laterallyprojecting portion or head 8, having an outwardly-opening slot 9, and at its rear end with an opening 10 and with an outstanding right-angularly-disposed bearing portion or fiange 11, there being provided on the member 5, adjacent its rear end, a spring-engaging element or latch 12. I

Pivoted at its rear end, as at 13, to the member 5 is 'a movable bar or keeper -14,-de

.signed to seat at its forward end within the slot 9 and in turn having a slot -14 to receive the bit-ring 3, while formed =on the forward end of the secondary member 6 is a wedgeshaped portion or cam-head 15,, adapted to move in a direction transversely of the forward ,portion of the member 5-and presenting \an inclined face 116, on which the member -14 rides for movement to releasing position, .as hereinafter explained, there being provided on the rear .end of member 6 and disposed "in a plane at right angles thereto a rein-engaging portion or plate 17, adapted to normally bear at its outer edge upon theflange 11 and at its inneredge beneath the sprmg-latch 12. The member 6 has formed thereon adjacent its fulcrum 7 a transversely-extending cam portion or projection 18, having an outwardly and forwardly inclined face 19,

adapted to .act upon the rear end of the keeper 14 for moving the same -to active engaging position.

In practice the device 2 is engaged with the bit-ring by seating the latter in the slot 14 and moving the member 6 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, whereby the inclined face 19 of the cam portion 18 will act upon the rear end of the keeper-bar 14 for moving the latter to active position, with its forward end seated in the slotted head, which latter holds the ring in the slot 14, it being noted that under these conditions the plate 17 which is disposed at an obtuse angle to the member 6, will extend parallel with the rear portion of member 5 and be maintained in locked engagement with the latter through the medium of the spring-catch. Upon engaging the device 2, which is secured to the hitching-strap 1 by securing the end of the latter, through the opening 10, with the bitring, as just explained, the rein 4 is properly seated beneath the plate 17, as seen in Fig. 1, whereby the operator may, after mounting to the vehicle by exerting traction upon the rein 4 release the plate 17 from engagement with the catch 12 and swing the plate outward to the position seen in Fig. 3, thereby moving the member 6 for forcing its head beneath the member 14, which, in riding upward on the inclined face 16, is moved to inactive or releasing position to permit escape of the ring 3 from the slot 14, as before stated and as will be readily understood. It may be mentioned in this connection that when the parts of the device are in engaging position the inner edge of keeper-bar 14 will be slightly spaced from the adjacent face of the member 5 to permit ready entrance of the pointed end of the head 15 between said parts. 7

From the foregoing it is apparent that we produce a simple device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it being understood that in attaining these ends minor changes in the details herein set forth. may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is 1. A hitching device comprising a pair of members connected for relative swinging movement, oneof the members being provided with a slotted head, a movable keeper carried by the device and having an open slot to receivea bit-ring and seat in the slotted head for holding the ring in place, and a cam. portion provided on the other member to act for moving the keeper to releasing position.

2. A hitching device comprising a primary member having a slotted head, a movable keeper associated with said member and slotted to receive a bit-ring, said keeper being adapted for movement to release the bitring, and a secondary relatively movable member adapted for operation to move the keeper to releasing position.

3. A hitching device comprising a primary member, a movable keeper associated with the member and having a slot for the reception of a bit ring, means on the primary member for closing the slot to hold the bitring in place, and a secondary relatively movable member connected with the primary member and having cam portions designed to act upon thekeeper for moving the same to active or inactive position.

4. A hitching device comprising a primary member, a keeper movably connected with said member and having a seat for the reception of a bit-ring, said primary member being provided with a slotted head to receive the end of the keeper for retaining the bit-ring in said seat, and asecondary, relatively movable member operable by a rein and having a cam portion to actupon and for moving the keeper to releasing position.

In testlmony whereof we affiX our signatures in presence of wltnesses.

GEORGE W. HAZLEWOOD. HENRY O. ROBINSON.

son:

T. D. HUFF, DQH. HARRIS. 

